NEWS: The Unthanks @ Sage Gateshead

The much-loved group undertake a symphonic exploration of their best-loved material, backed by the Army of Generals chamber orchestra

By Ali Welford
on Friday, December 1st, 2017

With the latest edition of Home Gathering Festival and two albums of Molly Drake interpretations behind them, 2017 has been another adventurous and fruitful 12 months for The Unthanks. It feels appropriate, then, that they’re seeing out the year with perhaps their most ambitious tour yet, culminating in a huge show at Sage Gateshead on Saturday 9th December.

Staged in the suitably ornate setting of Hall One, the concert will see core members Rachel and Becky Unthank and Adrian McNally embark on a symphonic exploration of their best-loved material, backed by the Army of Generals chamber orchestra as conducted by Charles Hazlewood. Moreover, the shows witness the blossoming of a relationship which began with a one-off Bristol performance back in June 2016, and has now expanded to incorporate brand new, specially devised material – not least the moving forthcoming release, Hymn For Syria.

Of course, The Unthanks already boast a catalogue of shimmering, cinematic scope; furnished with music of handsome, sweeping grandeur and still, peaceful allure. On the face of it, few outfits in modern music seem so ripe for symphonic makeover – a fact which makes this most natural of collaborations a true must-see.